Multiple Connection Drive Shaft

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a system to engage a plurality of tools. In the system a drive shaft and collet may be assembled to engage and disengage, selectively, a plurality of tools. User selection may allow use of a plurality of tools during a procedure or during a plurality of procedures.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/252,858filed on Aug. 31, 2016. The entire disclosure of the above applicationis incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a drive shaft for a motor assembly,and particularly to a drive shaft configured to drive multiple tools.

BACKGROUND

During selected procedures, a motor may be provided to power a tool,such as a tool that has a tool tip or working end that is able to bepowered in a selected manner. For example, the tool may be rotated at aselected velocity, such as about 100 rotations per minute (RPM) to about80,000 RPMs. The tool interconnected with the motor may be connected toa drive shaft configured to be powered by the motor to rotate. Aprocedure may then be carried out with the tool tip while rotating whenpowered by the motor.

The motor may be selected to interconnect with a plurality of differenttypes of tools. The various tools may be provided for differentprocedures, such as drilling a hole, inserting or fastening a fastener,milling a structure, or the like. Different tools may include differentconfigurations, such as diameters, connection shapes, or the like.Accordingly, attachments may be provided to interconnect the drive shaftof the motor with different ones of the tools. The motor drive shaft,therefore, may not accommodate all tools that are selected to be drivenby the motor assembly.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

A drive shaft includes a tool engaging portion to hold a tool within adrive shaft. The drive shaft may be included with a collet assembly. Thedrive shaft may include a plurality of driving regions to drivedifferent tools of different sizes, including different diameters by thesingle drive shaft. Further, the drive shaft may include an axialfixation engaging portion to engage all different tools to axially fixthe tools within the drive shaft. The axial fixation portion may includemoveable members. The moveable members may be biased to an engagedconfiguration to engage the tools. The biasing mechanism may be moved todisengage the tool from the biased configuration. Therefore, a driveshaft assembly may be used to engage and drive different tools ofdifferent diameters without providing attachments or augments to engagedifferently sized tools.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an environment view of a motorized assembly;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the motorized assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of the collet and driveshaft assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of the collet and driveshaft assembly;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the collet and drive shaft assembly.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a drive shaft, according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 7 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the drive shaft of FIG.of FIG. 6 along line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the drive shaft of FIG. 6along line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is an assembled cross-sectional view of the drive shaft of FIG. 6along line 9-9 with an instrument therein;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a kit of a plurality of tools; and

FIG. 11 is an assembled cross-section view of the drive shaft of FIG. 6with a selected tool axially engaged therein.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a motorized assembly 10 being used toperform a procedure on a subject 12. In various embodiments, themotorized assembly 10 may include a powered dissection tool forperforming a select procedure, such as forming a burr hole in a cranium14 of the patient 12. It is understood, however, that the instrumentassembly 10 may be used for performing other procedures such as aremoval of material relative to a nasal cavity of the subject 12 orother appropriate procedure. Further, it is understood that themotorized assembly 10 may be used to perform a procedure on a non-livingsubject such as powering a tool to drill a hole in an airframe, anautomotive frame, or the like. Accordingly, the motorized assembly 10 isnot required to be used with a living subject, such as a human patient.

With additional reference to FIG. 2 the motorized assembly 10 mayinclude various components which may include a motor assembly orcomponent 20. The motor component 20 may include an appropriate motorcomponent such as the LEGEND EHS STYLUS® motors, sold by Medtronic, Inc.The motor component 20 may be electrically powered, such as the LEGENDEHS STYLUS® motors. The power may be provided to the motor assembly 20via a tube 22 that is connected with a power source 24 via a connector26. The power source may be any appropriate power source such as theIPC® integrated power system, sold by Medtronic, Inc. It is understood,however, that the motor component 20 may be any appropriate motorassembly such as one powered by pneumatic power, or other appropriatepower supply. Therefore, a pneumatic or electric power drill is notintended to limit the subject disclosure or the pending claims.Moreover, the motor component 20 may include those disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 7,011,661 or U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,391, both incorporated hereinby reference.

The motor component 20 may include a connector 38 that has a threadedportion 30. The threaded portion 30 may threadably engage a collet anddrive shaft assembly 40. The collet and drive shaft assembly 40 may alsobe referred to as a drive shaft assembly 40 and may include both acollet portion and a drive shaft. The drive shaft, as discussed herein,may be formed of one unitary piece or formed of a plurality of piecesthat are connected. The drive shaft may engage a tool to move the toolfor performing a procedure.

The drive shaft assembly 40 may include a motor connector or engagingportion 44 having external threads 46 to engage the internal threads ofthe threaded portion 30 of the connector 38 of the motor component 20.Accordingly, the drive shaft assembly 40 may be operably connected tothe motor component 20 to power the drive shaft in the drive shaftassembly 40. The drive shaft assembly 40 may further include a toolreceiving end 48. The tool receiving end 48, as discussed furtherherein, can receive one or more tools or tool tips such as a first tooltip 50, a second tool tip 52 and a third tool tip 54 from a kit oftools. An attachment 82 may also be received on the tool receiving end48. The tools 50, 52, or 54 may selectively be placed through theattachment 82, if selected. Further, the kit may also include at leastone additional of the drive shaft assembly 40, the motor component 20,and the attachment 82 along with the tools 50, 52, 54.

Each of the tool tips, including the first tool tip 50, the second tooltip 52, and the third tool tip 54 may include a tool or shaft retainingregion 60 that may be substantially identical for each of the tool tips50, 52, 54. Each of the tool tips may also include respective workingends such as a first working end 64, a second working end 66, and athird working end 68. Each of the working ends may be a similar type ofworking end or a different type of working end. For example, the firstworking end 54 may include a burr, the second working end 66 may includea mill, and the third working end 68 may include a fluted drill tip. Theworking ends may also be distal or terminal ends of the tools 50, 52,54.

Nevertheless, each of the tool tips 50, 52, and 54 may be axiallyengaged within the drive shaft assembly 40 by moving the tool tipgenerally in the direction of the arrow 70. Once engaged in the driveshaft assembly 40, as discussed further herein, each of the tool tips50, 52, and 54 may be axially retained within the drive shaft assembly40. At least a portion of the drive shaft assembly 40, however, mayrotate by being powered by the motor component 20 to also rotate therespective tool tips 50, 52 and 54 around an axis 74.

The drive shaft assembly 40 may include an attachment connection portion80. The attachment connection portion 80 may allow a connection of theattachment 82. The attachment 82 may include a surface and/or bearingportion that assists in supporting one or more of the tools 50, 52, and54. The attachment 82 may not be required to be connected to the driveshaft assembly 40, but may be selected for various tool portions.Further, the attachment 82 may include various additional features, suchas allowing for an angled connection of the tool 50, 52, 54 to the driveshaft assembly 40.

In reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , the drive shaft assembly 40 mayinclude a drive shaft 100 including a first drive shaft portion ormember 102 and a second drive shaft portion or member 104. The driveshaft 100, however, may be formed of more than two pieces. The driveshaft 100 may be fit within a collet housing 108. The collet housing 108may include the motor connector portion 44 including the external thread46. The collet housing 108, therefore, may be attached to the motorcomponent 20 via threading the external threads 46 to the internalthreads 30.

Once the collet housing 108 is threaded to the motor assembly 20 thedrive shaft assembly 40 may be powered with the motor assembly 20. It isunderstood, however, that the collet housing 108 may be fixed to themotor assembly 20 with other appropriate connection mechanisms. Forexample, a bayonet connection, a quarter turn connection, or otherappropriate connections may allow the drive shaft assembly 40 to beremovably attached to the motor assembly 20 via the connector 38. Asdiscussed herein, the drive shaft 100 may then rotate relative to thecollet housing 108 to rotate the tools 50, 52, 54.

The drive shaft 100 may be press fit together. For example, the seconddrive shaft portion 104 may include a first region 110 that has anexternal diameter that forms an interference fit with a connectionregion 112 of the first drive shaft portion 102. The connection region112 may be formed within at least a portion of a throughbore 118 formedin the first shaft portion 102. The drive shaft 100 may, therefore, beassembled by press fitting the second drive shaft portion 104 into theportion of the bore 118 that forms the shaft connection portion 112. Itis also understood, however, that the second drive shaft portion 104 maybe fixed to the first drive shaft portion 102 in any appropriate mannersuch as by threading, welding, adhesives, brazing, or the like.

The first drive shaft portion 102 further includes the throughbore 118that extends from a first end 120 to a second end 122 of the first driveshaft portion 102. The throughbore 118, as discussed further herein,allows for passing of the tools 50, 52, 54 into the first drive shaftportion 102 and further for assembling the second drive shaft portion104 into the drive shaft connection portion 112 to form the drive shaft100.

The second drive shaft portion 104 further includes a motor shaftreceiving bore 124. The motor shaft receiving bore 124 may receive amotor shaft 128 (illustrated in phantom). The motor shaft 128 mayinterfere with an internal wall of the second shaft portion 104 thatdefines the internal bore 124 to allow for rotation of the first driveshaft portion 104. It is understood, however, that the motor shaftconnection may include an external surface connection to the motor shaft128, as well or in the alternative. Due to the interference fit of theconnection portions 110 and 112, rotation of the second drive shaftportion 104 rotates the first drive shaft portion 102. As discussedfurther herein the rotation of the second drive shaft portion 104 and/orthe first drive shaft portion 102 causes rotation of one or more of thetools 50, 52, and 54.

Further, the second drive shaft portion 104 includes two or more tangsor fingers including a first tang or finger 130 and a second tang orfinger 132 that extend from a body portion 133. Each of the tangs 130,132 may include spring or flex regions 134 and 136, respectively. Thespring regions 134, 136 allow tool engaging regions 138, 140,respectively, to flex radially outward or inward to move relative to thebody portion 133 to engage the tool retaining region 60 (shown inphantom in FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The tool engaging regions 138, 140 mayinclude a selected or keyed geometry, such as an elongated surfaces 142,144, respectively, to engage the tool retaining region 60. It isunderstood, however, that appropriate shapes may include a split hexshape, split square shape, or other appropriate shapes to transferrotational force from the second drive shaft portion 104 to the toolretaining region 60. Further, the keyed shape of the surfaces 142, 144may engage the tool retaining region 60 of the tools 50, 52, 54 toaxially hold the tools within the drive shaft 100. Accordingly, the toolengaging regions 138, 140 may be moved towards the central axis 74 ofthe drive shaft assembly 40 to engage the tools 50, 52, 54.

The tangs 130, 132, particularly the tool engaging regions 138, 140 maybe biased towards the central axis 74 by a biasing assembly 150. Thebiasing assembly 150 may include a carrier 154, an outer sleeve 156, aninner sleeve 158, one or more biasing pins 162, a first biasing spring166 and a second biasing spring 170. In combination, the biasingassembly 150 allows for engagement and disengagement of the toolengaging regions 138, 140 with the tool retaining region 60.

The inner sleeve 158 and the biasing spring 166 may be positioned withinthe inner bore 118 of the first drive shaft portion 102. The assembly ofthe inner sleeve 158 and the first biasing spring 166 may occur prior topress fitting the second drive shaft portion 104 into the bore 118 toform the connection between the connection regions 110, 112. The innersleeve 158 may, optionally, be retained at within the bore 118 at leastpartially with a shoulder formed in the first shaft portion 102.

The biasing pins 162 may be placed through one or more bores 174 formedthrough the first drive shaft portion 102. The outer sleeve 156 may beplaced over the biasing pins 162 to capture the biasing pins 162 betweenthe inner sleeve 158 and the outer sleeve 156. The pins 162 may bepassed through the bores 174 that are formed as elongated slots in thefirst drive shaft portion 102. The elongated slots 174 allow movement ofthe inner sleeve 158, the outer sleeve 156, and the biasing pins 162along the axis 74. The first biasing spring 166, however, generallyprovides a biasing force to bias the inner and outer sleeves, 158, 156and pins 162 generally towards the tool receiving end 48 of the driveshaft assembly 40.

When the first biasing spring 166 biases the inner sleeve 158 towardsthe tool receiving end 48, the tool engaging regions 138, 140 arecompressed towards the central axis 74 and may engage the tool retainingregion 60. Therefore, the tool is held axially relative to the driveshaft 100. During operation, such as in inserting or removing a selectedtool from the drive shaft 100, the drive shaft assembly 40 may bemanipulated to unbias and/or rebias the tool engaging regions 138, 140to engage the tool retaining region 60. In particular, the carrier 154may be engaged by carrier pins 180. It is understood that an appropriatenumber of carrier pins 180 may be provided, and two are illustratedmerely for illustration. Each of the carrier pins 180 may extend throughthe collet housing 108 through grooves, such as J-grooves 184. TheJ-grooves 184 may extend from a first end 186 that is nearer to the toolreceiving end 48 to a second end 188 that is further away from the toolreceiving end 48 than the first end 186.

A first ring 190 may rotate relative to the collet housing 108. Thecarrier pins 180, upon rotation of the ring 190, may move towards to themotor connector portion 44 of the collet housing 108, generally in thedirection of arrow 194. As the pins move in the J-groove 184, the pins180 move the carrier 154 also in the direction of arrow 194. As thecarrier 154 moves in the direction of arrow 194, a shoulder 198 engagesthe outer sleeve 156 to also move the outer sleeve in the direction thearrow 194. As discussed above, the outer sleeve captures the biasingpins 162 relative to the inner sleeve 158. Therefore, movement of theouter sleeve 156 moves the biasing pins 162 and the inner sleeve 158also in the direction of arrow 194. As the biasing pins 162 move in thedirection of the arrow 194, the biasing pins 162 move away from the toolengaging region 138, 140 of the tangs 130, 132 to a narrowed region 200and 202 of the respective tangs 130, 132. Therefore, as the biasing pins162 move to the narrowed regions 200, 202 the spring portions 134, 136allow the tool engaging regions 138, 140 to move away from the centralaxis 74. In this way, the respective tool 50, 52, 54 may be disengagedfrom the tool retaining region 60 and may be moved axially out of thecollet housing 108. Once the tool is removed and either a new tool isinserted or the procedure may be completed, the ring 190 may be twistedto move the carrier pins 180 in the direction opposite the arrow 194.Further, the second biasing spring 170 may assist in biasing the carrier154 generally towards the tool receiving end 48 away from the motorengaging portion 44. Therefore, the second biasing spring 170 mayprovide a biasing force, in addition to the biasing force provided bythe first biasing spring 166, to assist in biasing the tool engagingportions 138, 140 towards an engagement or closed position relative tothe tool retaining region 60 of the inserted tool to assist in holdingthe tool 50, 52, 54 in the tool drive shaft 100.

The second biasing spring 170 may be held between a first drive shaftbearing 210 and an end 212 of the carrier 154. The bearing 210 may allowrotation of the drive shaft 100 and bear on the second shaft portion 104near the motor connector portion 44. The bearing 210 may be held withinthe collet housing 108 with a snap ring or fixation ring 216. It isunderstood, however, any appropriate fixation or holding member may beused to hold the bearing 210 in the collet housing 108 and the snap ring216 is merely exemplary. Further, compression of the motor component 20on the drive shaft assembly 40 may assist or form a force to hold thebearing 210 in place.

Within the collet housing 108 may be placed a second drive shaft bearing220 to bear or hold the first drive shaft member 102 axially andradially within the collet housing 108. The bearing 220 may also bear onthe first shaft portion 102 during rotation. The bearing 220 may be heldwithin the collet housing 108 against a shoulder 222 of the first driveshaft portion 102 and a spacer 224. The spacer 224 may be biased againstthe bearing 220 with a third biasing spring 226 that is held against ashoulder or wall surface 228 of the collet housing 108.

The drive shaft assembly 40 may further include a second ring 230, awave spring 232, and a C-clip 234. The C-clip 234 may assist in holdingthe wave spring 232 onto the collet housing 108. Further, one or morelocking balls 238 may assist in fixing the second sleeve 230rotationally relative to the collet housing 108 by being received withinindents 236 in the collet housing 108. The second ring 230 may be movedaxially along the axis 74 to assist in engaging the attachment 82 ontothe collet housing 108. Further, the wave spring 232 may further assistin biasing and holding the attachment 82 relative to the collet housing108.

Accordingly, the drive shaft assembly 40 may include the drive shaft 100that may be powered by the motor component 20 to rotate tools, such asthe tools 50, 52, 54 relative to the collet housing 108. The drive shaft100 may include a plurality of tool driving regions or portions to allowtransfer of rotational force to the respective tools. Different tooldriving regions may engage differently sized tools.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the tool retaining region 60 of the tool 50may be received and engaged substantially only at the tool engagingregions 138, 140. Therefore, the keyed portion of the tool engagingportions 138, 140 may form a first tool driving region 249. The tool 50may include a diameter 260 that is about 1.0 millimeters (mm) to about1.3 mm in diameter. Therefore, an exterior surface of the tool 50 maynot contact any other portion of the first drive portion 102 wheninserted into the drive shaft 100 and engaged in the first tool drivingregion 249. The tool retaining region 60 may be the only portion engagedwithin the drive shaft 100 to hold the tool 50 within the drive shaft100 and to transfer rotational forces to the tool 50.

The first tool driving region 249 may be used to transfer rotationalforces, including torque, to the tool 50 and/or the other tools 52 and54. The first tool driving region 249 may also operate, as discussedherein, to axially fix all of the tools 50, 52, and 54 within the driveshaft 100. Therefore, the first tool driving region 249 may operate asboth a rotational driver and an axial fixation mechanism. In operationwith various tools, as discussed herein, the first tool driving region249 may operate substantially or only as an axial fixation mechanism.

The first tool portion may include a second tool driving region 264. Thesecond tool driving region 264 may include a selected geometry, such asa hex shape. Other appropriate geometries, however, may also be providedsuch as square, triangular, or the like. The second tool driving region264 may engage a tool drive region 266 on the tool 52. The tool 52 mayinclude a second diameter 268 that is greater than the diameter 260 andallows for the drive region 266 to engage the second tool driving region264 of the first drive shaft portion 102. The diameter 268 may be about2.0 mm to about 2.5 mm. The tool 52 may also, as discussed furtherherein, include the retaining region to engage the first tool drivingregion 249. The first tool driving region 249 may operate, however, tosubstantially or only axially fix the tool 52 within the drive shaft100.

The first drive portion 102 may further include a third tool drivingregion 274. The third tool driving region 274 may, for example, behexagonal in shape or may include other appropriate shapes such as asquare, triangle, or the like. The third tool 54 may further include thetool retaining region 60 that may be received in the tool engagingregions 138, 140 of the tangs 130, 132 and also a drive region 276 thatmay be complementary to and be received within the third tool drivingregion 274. The third tool 54 may include a third diameter 280 that maybe different, such as greater than, both the first diameter 260 and thesecond diameter 268. The diameter 280 may be about 3 mm to about 3.2 mm.Again, the first tool driving region 249 may operate to substantially oronly axially retain the tool 54 within the drive shaft 100.

Accordingly, regardless of the diameter 260, 268, or 280 of the tools50, 52, 54, respectively, each may be driven by the tool drive shaft100. Therefore, the tool drive shaft 100 including at least the first,second, and third tool driving regions 249, 264, and 274 may engage atleast three different sizes of tools. As discussed above, each of thetools may have different sizes or different diameters, including therespective diameters 260, 268, 280, and may be provided for varying anddifferent purposes.

It is understood, however, that the tool drive shaft 100 may includevarious numbers of tool driving regions. In various embodiments, atleast one of the tool driving regions may be variable or moveable, suchas the tool driving region 249 formed by the tangs 130, 132. In otherwords, the tangs 130, 132 may move to engage or disengage one or moretools. Further, one or more of the tool driving regions may have fixeddimensions. For example, the tool driving region 264 may have a fixedgeometry to engage a selected tool. Still further, a selected tool mayengage more than one of the tool driving regions. Also, the drivingregions, such as the driving regions 249, 264, and 274 may be separateand spaced apart from one another. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the driving regions 249, 264, and 274 are spaced apart fromone another along the axis 74.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 , during an operative procedure auser 11 may be provided with a kit or system, such as illustrated inFIG. 2 , which may include at least the three tools 50, 52, 54 eitherselected by a user, such as a predetermined selection, or provided as akit of more than the three tools 50, 52, 54. The kit may further includethe attachment 82 and other appropriate portions selected by the user.During a procedure, such as an operative procedure, the user 11 mayselect to engage and disengage one or more of the tools 50, 52, 54 (orother tools) at different times during the procedure. For example theuser 11 may first form a burr hole in the subject 12 and further form amilled portion of bone on the subject 12. The user 11 may first selectto place the tool 50 in the tool drive shaft 100 for performing a firstpart of a procedure. The user 11 may then remove the first tool 50 andthen place the second tool 52 in the tool drive shaft 100 for a furtherperformance of the procedure. The tool drive shaft 100 including atleast the three driving regions 249, 264, and 274 may allow forinterconnection for all of the tools 50, 52, 54 with the tool driveshaft 100 that is a single drive shaft within the drive shaft assembly40 without requiring or using additional attachments or portions to beconnected to the drive shaft assembly 40, including the tool drive shaft100.

The tangs 130, 132 may all be used to engage the tool retaining region60 to axially hold, individually, all of the tools 50, 52, 54 within thetool drive shaft 100. As discussed above, the tool engaging regions 138,140 of the tangs 130, 132 may be engaged to each of the tools 50, 52,and 54. Thus, the tool engaging regions 138, 140 of the tangs 130, 132may axially fix and retain each of the tools 50, 52, 54. Therefore, thetool drive shaft 100 may both axially retain and rotationally drive eachand all of the respective tools 50, 52, 54. Operation of the motorizedassembly 10, therefore, may be used during an operative procedureaccording to a selected purpose including selecting and engaging one ormore of the tools 50, 52, 54.

Further, it is understood that even though only a single tool may beused during an operative procedure, the tool drive shaft 100 may allowfor interconnection of a plurality of tools with the single tool driveshaft 100 at a selected time. Moreover, the drive shaft assembly 40 maybe cleaned and sterilized for a plurality of procedures such that thedrive shaft assembly 40 may be used to engage different tools duringdifferent procedures without requiring additional attachments.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 , a collet and drive shaftassembly 340 is illustrated including a drive shaft 100′. The collet anddrive shaft assembly 340 may include several portions similar oridentical to the collet and drive shaft assembly 40, discussed above.These portions will be referenced with the same reference numerals andwill not be described in detail here. However, the collet and driveshaft assembly 340 may include portions that are augmented, replaced, orchanged from the collet and drive shaft assembly 40 discussed above. Thecollet and drive shaft assembly 340, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , mayinclude a drive shaft 100′ that includes a the first drive shaft portion102′ and the second drive shaft portion 104 including portions asdiscussed above. The first drive shaft portion 102′ may be similar tothe first drive shaft portion 102, discussed above, but augmented asdescribed below.

The drive shaft 100′ including the first portion 102′ and the seconddrive shaft portion 104 may further include the tangs 130, 132 asdiscussed above. The tangs 130, 132 may be biased towards the centralaxis 74 with a biasing assembly 350 similar to the biasing assembly 150discussed above. The biasing assembly 350 may include various portionsincluding those discussed above. Further, various portions as discussedabove may be augmented as discussed further herein to provide a biasingand retention mechanism for the tool, including the tool 50, 52, and 54.

The biasing assembly 350 includes the carrier 154 and an outer sleeve356. The outer sleeve 356 may include a proximal sleeve portion 356 asimilar to the outer sleeve 156 positionable over the drive shaftassembly 100, discussed above. The outer sleeve 356 may further includea distal sleeve portion 356 b. The distal sleeve portion 356 b mayinclude an external wall 356 b′ that extends from the proximal sleeveportion 356 a toward the tool receiving end 48. The outer sleeveextension portion 356 b may further include an internal surface 360. Theinternal surface 360 may further include a ramp or inclined surface 362that extends at an angle 364 from the internal surface 360. The rampsurface 362 may extend from the internal surface 360 at the angle 364such that a distal portion of the ramp surface 362 is closer to theinternal surface 360 and a proximal portion of the ramp surface 362 isat or near a shoulder or protrusion 366. Therefore, the ramp surface 362is extending away from the internal surface 360.

The surface 362 and the protrusion 366 may act upon a biasing or lockingmember 370. The biasing or locking member 370 may include a plurality ofbiasing or locking members, such as three biasing or locking members370. In various embodiments, each of the locking members 370 may beprovided as a substantially spherical ball. Each of the plurality oflocking members 370 may be spaced apart from one another around the axis74, such as 120 degrees apart.

Each locking member 370 may be positioned between the inner surface ofthe outer sleeve 356 and a respective pocket 374 formed through thefirst drive shaft portion 102′. The pockets 374 may include a selectedgeometry where the locking member 370 may extend through an outersurface 376 of the first drive shaft portion 102′, but are not able topass entirely through and fall into the internal region, such as in thethird tool engaging region 274 of the first drive shaft portion 102′.For example, the pocket 374 may include a taper geometry to taper fromthe exterior surface 376 to an interior surface 378. Additionally, oralternatively, the pocket 374 may include a concave internal geometryhaving an internal diameter great enough to receive the locking member370, but allows only a selected portion of the locking member 370 toextend into the inner surface or past the inner surface 378. Forexample, the geometry of the pocket 374 may be formed to allow a maximumdistance, such as about 1 mm, of the locking member 370 to extend pastthe inner surface 378.

The locking members 370 may assist in locking or radially engaging anexternal surface of the tool positioned within the drive shaft 100′. Forexample, a shaft of the tool, such as the tool 50, may be engaged by anexternal surface of the locking member 370. Therefore the locking member370 may axially lock and/or radially stabilize the tool 50 duringoperation of the drive shaft 100′. It is understood, however, that thelocking members 370 may only radially stabilize (i.e., minimize radialmovement or vibration) of the tool 50 during operation of the driveshaft 100′. As discussed herein, the locking members 370 may operablyengage a selected portion of a tool to assist in axial fixation. If thetool, however, does not include an axial holding feature the lockingmembers 370 may operate only, or substantially only, to radiallystabilize the tool.

In operation, to lock or engage the tool 50 in the drive shaft 100′, theouter sleeve 356 may be moved axially towards the tool receiving end 48similar to movement of the outer sleeve 156, as discussed above.Movement of the outer sleeve 356 towards the tool receiving end 48generally in the direction of arrow 384 will move the sleeve extensionportion 356 b such that the locking members 370 move along the rampsurface 362 towards the protrusion 366. As the locking members 370 movealong the ramp surface 362, the locking members 370 move towards theaxis 74 generally in the direction of arrow 386. The locking member 370may be in contact with the external surface of the tool 50, 52, or 54 asillustrated in FIG. 9 .

When disengaging the tool from the drive shaft 100, the outer sleeve 356may be generally moved in the direction of arrow 390 similar to movingthe outer sleeve 156 in the direction of arrow 194, as discussed above.Movement of the outer sleeve 356 generally in direction of arrow 390will move the sleeve extension portion 356 in the direction of arrow 390and allow the locking members 370 to move along the ramp surface 362away from the central axis 74 generally in direction of arrow 392. Byallowing the locking members 370 to move in the direction of arrow 392,the locking members 370 may disengage or be removed away from theexternal surface of the selected tool, such as the tool 50, 52, or 54.Thus, the tool may be removed from the drive shaft 100 by also havingthe tangs 130, 132 disengage from the selected tool along with thelocking members 370.

Accordingly, the drive shaft assembly 340, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 ,may allow for an additional or secondary axial fixation and/orstabilization of a selected tool. The selected tool may be inserted intothe drive shaft assembly 340 and the external sleeve 356 may be moved tobias the locking members 370 against the selected tool. The selectedtool may then be removed after moving the external sleeve 356 to unbiasthe locking members 370 from the selected tool. Nevertheless, asdiscussed above, the tangs 130 and 132 may be used to engage anddisengage all selected tools positioned within the drive shaft assembly340 and the locking members 370 may be supplementary and/or auxiliary tothe tangs 130, 132.

The collet and drive shaft assembly 340, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 maybe operated by the drill motor 10, as discussed above, to power one ormore tools. As discussed above, the collet and drive shaft assembly 340may be used to operate the tool 52, 54, 56, which may be included in akit, as discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 2 . Further, the colletand drive shaft assembly 340 may be used to power tools included in akit 400, as illustrated in FIG. 10 . The kit 400 may include variousportions, such as the collet and drive shaft assembly 340 and the motorassembly 20. It is understood, however, that the kit 400 may not includethe collet and drive shaft assembly 340 and/or the motor 20, but mayrather only include tools.

The kit 400 may include one or all of the tools including the first tool52, a fourth tool 410, a fifth tool 420, a sixth tool 440, and a seventhtool 460. Each of the tools 52, 410, 420, 440, and 460 may beinterconnected with the drive shaft 100′ including the first driveshaftportion 102′ and the second drive shaft portion 104. The various toolsmay include retaining features or regions. For example, the tool 52 mayinclude the retaining region 60, as discussed above. The tools 440 and460 may also include a retaining region 60′. The retaining region 60′may be identical to the retaining region 60 or be augmented. Regardless,the retaining region 60 and 60′ may be engaged in the drive shaft 100′,as discussed herein. The tool 410 and the tool 420 may include aretaining region 470 that is retained by the or engaged by the lockingmembers 370. As discussed above, the locking members 370 may move in thedirection of arrow 386 when urged and/or biased by the protrusion 360 bymoving along the surface 362. The locking members 370, therefore, mayengage the retaining region 470 of the tools 410 and 420. The tools 440and 460 may also include a retaining region 470 as an auxiliary and/orsupplementary retaining region 60′.

The retaining region 470 may be formed as one or more depressions. Forexample, the retaining region 470 may include an annular depression orgroove formed around the respective tools 410, 420, 440, and 460. It isalso understood that the retaining region 470 may be formed as aplurality of discrete depressions that are selected based upon thenumber of the locking members 370. For example, three or moredepressions may be formed in an exterior surface of the respective tools410, 420, 440, and 460 to receive or be engaged by one or more of thelocking members 370 when the respective tools are positioned within thedrive shaft collet assembly 340. Regardless, the retaining portion 470may be engaged by the locking members 370 when the respective tool ispositioned in the collet and drive shaft assembly 340.

With initial reference to the fourth tool 410, the fourth tool 410 mayinclude a working end 480 that may be formed as a selected working endor tool portion such as a burr, drill point, reamer, or the like. Theworking end 480 may extend from a shaft 482. The retaining region 470may be formed as a depression into the shaft 482 near to a drivingportion 484. The retaining portion 470 may be formed between the drivingportion 484 and the working end 480. The driving portion 484 may beformed with one or more flats 486 on an external surface of the shaft482. The flats 486 of the driving portion 484 may be received and engagethe drive shaft 100′ at a selected drive region or portion including asecond tool driving region 264′, as illustrated in FIG. 8 .

The second tool driving region 264′ may be substantially identical tothe second tool driving region 264 discussed above and illustrated inFIG. 3 . The driving portion 484 may engage the second driving portion264′ in a manner similar to that discussed above. The second tooldriving region 264′ may include a female receiving region that iscomplementary to the shape of the driving portion 484 of the tool 410.For example, the driving portion 484 of the tool 410 may include ahexagonal or pentagon cross-section and the second tool driving region264′ may include a complementary internal hexagonal or pentagoncross-section. Therefore, once the tool 410 is engaged in the secondtool driving region 264′, the drive shaft 100′ may transfer force to thetool 410 via the tool driving portion 484.

As discussed above, the locking member 370 may be moved to engage theretaining region 470 of the tool 410 once positioned within the colletand drive shaft assembly 340. Due to the locking member 370, no otheraxial retaining mechanism may be necessary to retain the tool 410 withinthe drive shaft 100′. The drive shaft 100′, therefore, may be powered bythe drill motor 20 to rotate the tool 410 for a selected operation, asdiscussed above. The retaining region 60, however, may not be necessaryto retain the tool 410 in the drive shaft assembly 100′. It isunderstood, however, that the tangs 130, 132 may be included in thesecond drive shaft portion 104 to retain a selected tool, such as thetool 50, if the first tool 50 is selected to be engaged in the driveshaft 100′.

With additional reference to FIG. 10 , the fifth tool 420 may include aselected geometry that is different from the fourth tool 410. Forexample, the tool 410 may include a shaft diameter 490 that is less thana shaft diameter 494 of the tool 420. The tool 420, however, may alsoinclude a working end 496. The working end 496 may be different than theworking end 480, such as including a different size, a differentgeometry, or a different type. The tool 420 further includes a shaft 500that may include or have formed therein the retaining region 470. Theretaining region 470 may be identical to the retaining region 470 of thetool 410, discussed above. Therefore, the retaining region 470 may beformed as an annular groove or plurality of depressions formed in theshaft 500. Further, the retaining region 470 may be formed on a portionof the shaft 500 that has a diameter 490′ similar to the diameter 490 tobe positioned at the placement of the locking members 370.

The tool 420 may also include a driving portion 510. The driving portion510 may include one or more flats 514 that may be engaged in a thirdtool driving region 274′ of the drive shaft 100′. The driving portion510 may include a selected geometry that is complementary to thegeometry of the third driving region 274′. For example, the drivingportion 510 may include a hexagonal and pentagon cross-section and thethird tool driving region 274′ includes a complementary internal hexagonor pentagon.

The tool 420 may also include an alignment portion 520. The alignmentportion 520 may also include one or more flats 522. The alignmentportion 520 may be received in the second tool driving region 264′.Although a rotational force may be applied to the tool 420 via thealignment portion 520, the tool 420 may be substantially driven via thethird tool driving region 274′. Therefore, the alignment region 520 mayassist with simply initially aligning (e.g., axially or radially) thetool 420 in the second drive shaft portion 102′. As noted above, thevarious tool driving regions, including the driving regions 264′, 274′and that formed by the tangs 130, 132 may be formed within the driveshaft 100′.

Again, the retaining region 470 may be engaged by the locking member370, as discussed above, when the locking member 370 generally moves inthe direction of arrow 386. The locking member 370 may provide the onlyaxial retention mechanism for the tool 420 within the second drive shaftportion 102′. Therefore, the retaining region 60, 60′ may not benecessary or provided on the tool 420. Nevertheless, the retainingregion 470 when engaged by the locking member 370 may be axiallyretained within the drive shaft collet assembly 340 for operation of thetool 420 when powered by the motor assembly 20.

With continuing reference to FIG. 10 , the sixth tool 440 and theseventh tool 460 may include both the retaining portion 470 and theretaining portion 60′. The multiple retaining portions may be engaged bythe collet and drive shaft assembly 340, as illustrated in FIG. 11 ,discussed below to assist in ensuring axial retention of the tool. It isunderstood, however, in various embodiments, such as with the fourthtool 410 and the fifth tool 420 that the retaining region 470 engagedwith the locking members 370 may be the substantially the only axiallyretaining or fixing system. The driving portion may provide slight axialfixation due to frictional engagement, but generally will only providerotational force. Further, the tools 50, 52, and 54 may includesubstantially only the retaining mechanism 60 as an axial fixation andretaining system when engaged via the tangs 130, 132.

With initial reference to the sixth tool 440, the tool may be similar tothe fourth tool 410, discussed above. Therefore, the tool 440 mayinclude the working end 480, the shaft 482, and the shaft diameter 490.The retaining region 470 may include an annular groove or separatedepressions formed in the shaft 482, as discussed above. A tool drivingportion 484 may also include one or more flats 486, as discussed above.Extending from a proximal end 540 may be the retaining region 60′. Theretaining region 60′ may include a distal end that may taper from ashoulder 550 to a minor diameter or cross-section at a distal tip 552.The taper portion may be generally conical. It is understood that theretaining region 60, as discussed above, need not be conical and mayinclude one or more flat portions.

In the retaining portion 60′, the shoulder 550 may be at an edge or forma portion of a depression, such as an annular groove 554 between theshoulder 550 and a second shoulder 556. The groove 554 may be engaged bythe tool engaging regions 138, 140 of the tangs 130, 132, respectively.The retaining region 60′ may, therefore, be engaged by the tangs 130,132 of the second drive shaft portion 104 in a manner similar to theretaining region 60, as discussed above. The retaining region 60′,however, need not be keyed to the tool engaging regions 138, 140 as thetool 440 may be driven by the first drive shaft portion 102′. Thisallows the tool 440 to be axially retained within the drive shaft 100′with both the retaining region 470 engaged by the locking members 370and the retaining region 60′ retained with the tangs 130, 132. The driveportion 484 may be engaged with the second tool driving region 264′, asdiscussed above.

The seventh tool 460 may be similar to the fifth tool 420, discussedabove. The tool 460, therefore, may include the working end 496 and theshaft 500. The shaft 500 may include the shaft diameter 494 as discussedabove. The tool 460 may also include the tool driving region 510 havingformed thereon one or more flats 514, as discussed above. The drivingportion 514 may be engaged in the third driving region of 274′ of thefirst drive shaft portion 102′, as discussed above, and illustrated inFIG. 11 . The second retaining region 470 may be formed as a depression,such as an annular groove 470 in the shaft 500. The retaining region 470may be engaged by the locking members 370, as discussed above and alsoas illustrated in FIG. 11 . Again, the retaining region 470 may beformed on a portion of the shaft 500 that has a diameter 490′. Near tothe retaining region 470 may be an alignment region 520 that includes orhas one or more flats 522 similar to the tool 420.

Extending from a proximal end 570 may be the retaining region 60′. Theretaining region 60′ may be similar to the retaining region 60′discussed above of the tool 440. Therefore, the retaining region 60′ mayinclude a shoulder 550 and a proximal region that tapers to the tip 552.The retaining region 60′ may further include the second shoulder 556 andthe compression, such as the annular groove 554. The retaining region60′, including the annular groove 554, allows the tool 460 to be engagedby the tangs 130, 132 with the tool engaging regions 138, 140, asdiscussed above.

Accordingly, with continued reference to FIG. 10 and additionalreference to FIG. 11 , the tool 420 is illustrated engaged in the driveshaft 100′. The retaining region 470 is engaged by the locking member370 to axially retain the tool 420 within the drive shaft 100′. Further,as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 11 , the retaining region 60′ of thetool 460 is illustrated engaged by the tool engaging regions 138, 140 ofthe tangs 130, 132. The locking members 370 may also be engaged in theretaining region 470 of the tool 460. Therefore, the tool 460 may beretained within the drive shaft 100′ with two axial retainingmechanisms. The two axial retaining mechanisms 470, 60′ may be axiallyspaced apart. Accordingly, the sixth and seventh tools 420, 460 can beaxially retained in the drive shaft 100′ based upon the selected axialretaining portion 470, 60′.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A drive shaft assembly, comprising: a drive shaftextending from a first end to a second end, the drive shaft including: afirst drive shaft member defining a through-bore extending through thefirst drive shaft member; and a second drive shaft member axially androtationally fixed relative to the first drive shaft member within thethrough-bore of the first drive shaft member; a first tool drivingregion defined within the drive shaft and configured to releasably andaxially retain a first tool; and a second tool driving region definedwithin the drive shaft and configured to releasably and rotationallyretain the first tool, the second tool driving region including anangled inner surface, the angled inner surface cooperating with aplurality of spherical locking members to releasably and rotationallyretain the first tool within the drive shaft.
 9. The drive shaftassembly according to claim 8, wherein each spherical locking member ofthe plurality of spherical locking members is positioned between theangled inner surface and a respective pocket defined in an outer sleeveof the first drive shaft member.
 10. The drive shaft assembly accordingto claim 9, wherein each respective pocket defined in the outer sleeveof the first drive shaft member includes a geometry impeding arespective one of the plurality of spherical locking members frompassing entirely through the respective pocket.
 11. The drive shaftassembly according to claim 10, wherein each respective pocket includesa tapered geometry.
 12. The drive shaft assembly according to claim 8,wherein each spherical locking member of the plurality of sphericallocking members is spaced relative to each other spherical lockingmember of the plurality of spherical locking members around alongitudinal axis defined through the drive shaft.
 13. The drive shaftassembly according to claim 12, wherein each spherical locking member ofthe plurality of spherical locking members is spaced 120 degreesrelative to one another around the longitudinal axis.
 14. The driveshaft assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality ofspherical locking members is positioned between the angled inner surfaceand a respective pocket defined in an outer sleeve of the first driveshaft member.
 15. The drive shaft assembly according to claim 14,wherein each spherical locking member of the plurality of sphericallocking members is configured to move toward a longitudinal axis definedthrough the drive shaft as the plurality of spherical locking membersmoves proximally along the angled inner surface.
 16. A drive shaftassembly, comprising: a drive shaft including: a first drive shaftmember defining a through-bore extending through the first drive shaftmember; and a second drive shaft member axially and rotationally fixedrelative to the first drive shaft member within the through-bore of thefirst drive shaft member; a plurality of tangs extending from the driveshaft and configured to releasably and axially retain a first tool uponselective engagement thereof, and a second tool driving region definedwithin the drive shaft and configured to releasably and rotationallyretain the first tool, the second tool driving region including anangled inner surface, the angled inner surface cooperating with aplurality of spherical locking members to releasably and rotationallyretain the first tool within the drive shaft.
 17. The drive shaftassembly according to claim 16, wherein each tang of the plurality oftangs is disposed in opposition relative to another tang of theplurality of tangs under a spring-bias such that the plurality of tangsflexes radially to engage a tool engaging region of the first tool. 18.The drive shaft assembly according to claim 17, wherein the toolengaging region includes a keyed geometry to facilitate engagement withthe plurality of tangs.
 19. The drive shaft assembly according to claim18, wherein the keyed geometry is at least one geometry selected fromthe group consisting of elongated surfaces, split hex shape, and splitsquare shape.